Rising since 1985, #1,207 for girls today.
Popularity of Ellery since 1882
Babies named Ellery per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 0 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0 | 19 |
| 1900s | 0 | 23 |
| 1910s | 0 | 137 |
| 1920s | 0 | 225 |
| 1930s | 0 | 149 |
| 1940s | 0 | 224 |
| 1950s | 5 | 323 |
| 1960s | 5 | 250 |
| 1970s | 34 | 248 |
| 1980s | 78 | 212 |
| 1990s | 326 | 145 |
| 2000s | 1,046 | 119 |
| 2010s | 2,073 | 116 |
| 2020s | 1,177 | 61 |
Meaning & origin
Ellery is a name that has transitioned from a surname to a stylish modern given name, primarily for girls. It first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1959, and since 1985, its usage has been on a steady rise. In 2025, Ellery ranked 1207th, with approximately 1 in every 8549 newborn girls receiving the name. Its peak year came in 2015, reflecting a broader trend toward surname-inspired names ending in 'ery'. Geographically, Ellery has found particular favor in Connecticut, Iowa, and Michigan. The name's link to the literary pseudonym Ellery Queen lends it an intellectual, mystery-novel charm without being overtly tied to a specific character. While its exact etymology is debated, it is widely accepted as a variant of Hilary, meaning 'cheerful'.
Ellery originated as an English surname, derived from the medieval given name El(l)ery, a variant of Hilary. The name Hilary comes from the Latin Hilarius, meaning 'cheerful' or 'joyful'. As a given name, Ellery saw modest use in the 19th century but gained modern traction in the late 20th century, particularly for girls, influenced by literary usage (e.g., Ellery Queen, the pseudonym of mystery writers Manfred B. Lee and Frederic Dannay).
Where Ellery is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ell, Ellie, Lee
Variants: Ellerey, Elleray, Elery
Sibling names for Ellery
Names that share Ellery's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Avery, Emery, Harper, Quinn, Peyton, Arden, Berkley, Piper, Sutton, Tinley, Aspyn, Brinkley, Emry, Jorie, Mabry, Raelee, Ainsleigh, Amberley, Aubery, Avaleigh, Aynsley, Berkleigh, Ellerie, Emmery, Kynsley, Langley, Lawren, Layni, Maebry, Aberdeen, Aslee, Daily, Ellaree, Embrie, Emeree, Emryn, Lennyx, Lexine, Lynnix, Mattingly, Maybree, Rawlings, Steely, Witney, Brinsley, Audyn, Baxley, Brixtyn, Delancey, Espyn, Infantof, Lennan, Marsali, Matteson, Paisely, Parys
Brothers: Emerson, Finley, Sawyer, Parker, Carter, Colsen, Crosby, Kye, Ramsey, Rogers, Andersen, Arlington, Auden, Collier, Copeland, Granger, Jettson, Kaycen, Kolter, Schuyler, Tennyson, Calloway, Creedence, Draper, Everitt, Fuller, Hatcher, Hinton, Hoover, Hutson, Huxlee, Keston, Kingsten, Kipling, Knoxx, Seeley, Whitaker, Whitten, Ashford, Beckem, Bryor, Butler, Casten, Dansby, Emrick, Hawthorne, Kempton, Lowery, Mccrae, Redding, Rutledge, Tipton, Whittaker, Woodward, Deadrick, Adyen, Branston, Burnham, Chanceler, Chantry, Criston, Hilery, Hooper, Huxon, Knightly, Kohyn, Lenoxx, Maxey, Ridgely, Royel, Seaver, Statler, Teagon, Waller, Whitton
